Tool handle



Marbh 5, 1940. J.- J. DOWNES 2,192,399 TOQL HANDLE Filed Dec. 6, 1 938 A itomeus Patented Mar. 5, 1940 TOOL HANDLE Jack J. Downes, Tampa, Fla, assignor of onehalf to Walter W. Pekks, Clearwater, Fla.

Application December 6, 1938, Serial No. 244,249

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in handles for different kinds of tools, particularly shovels for use in grading, ditching, etc., and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a

handle of this character embodying novel measuring means.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a tool handle of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use and which may be manufactured at low, cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in rear elevation of a tool handle embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a View in horizontal section, through the handle, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

5 Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprising an elon- I gated handle of suitable material, such as wood, which is designated generally by the reference 30 numeral I. It may be well to here state that the handle I may be of any suitable length and diameter. One end of the handle i is substantially flat, as at 2.

Formed longitudinally in the back of the han- 35 die I is a channel or groove 3 of suitable length,

width and depth, said channel or groove terminating, at one end, at a predetermined distance :from the flat end 2 of said handle I. Fixed in the bottomof the channel or groove 3 is a lon- 40 gitudinally extending strip 4 of suitable metal.

The face of the metallic strip 4 is graduated, as

at 5, to indicate inches and. fractions thereof.

It. is thought that the manner in which the handle functions will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the flat end 2 of the handle I is engaged-with the point from which a measurement is to be made.

Of course, the desired measurement may then be -5 readily made by simply observing the graduations 5 on the metallic strip 4. One or more markers, as at 6, may be inserted in the channel or groove 3 to indicate fixed points that may be desired. The markers 5 are preferably of soft wood and 10 are of a Width to fit tightly in the channel or groove 3 in a manner to be frictionally retained in position by the side walls of said channel or groove. The graduations 5, being spaced inwardly from the periphery of the handle I, are pro- 16 tected from wear and other damage when the tool is in use. I

It is believed that the many advantages of a tool handle constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and 20 although a preferred embodimentof the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the, scope of the invention as claimed.

What-is claimed is:

l A device of the class described comprising an elongated straight member having a longitudinally extending groove therein, said groove hav- 1 ing straight parallel side walls and a flat bottom wall which extends at right angles to the side walls, said groove being of considerable depth, a flat strip resting on the bottom of the groove and said strip having its side edges snugly fitting against the side edges of the groove with the strip of considerably less thickness than the depth of the groove, whereby the major part of the groove is left open, said strip having gradu ations on its outer face and a marker of a width to irictionally fit in a part of the groove to engage the side walls thereof.

JACK J. DOWNES. 

